As I sit here on a train hurtling backwards through South Wales I am a mix of emotions.
Today I’m going to Stevenage in the hopes to buy a food van. After a couple of months of scouting Facebook, eBay and gumtree I’m finally getting to see one. I’ve been in contact with people and when a van that pops my interest and budget comes up, I message an enquiry but for some reason when I’ve asked to come and view what they are selling, suddenly it goes quiet. I chase and chase with more messages all to no avail. So far I have missed out on 3 possibles. The first was down to me hesitating and not grabbing the opportunity, like many of us I made excuses that if it’s meant to be it will be there when I get back of holiday, could I get something better. I should have made time and gone but that is the past and good luck to whoever has it. The other two I chased and chased but guess they didn’t want to sell unless very convenient, a week later notifications tell me they have sold. I couldn’t do anymore so time to move on. That leads me to this one.
I saw this on the national catering association website, a fantastic resource for anyone thinking of doing their own thing in the food world. These guys are really behind us and look like they have legal nouse.
The van has age but with it character, it says it’s good the trade. It’s a Mercedes who are renowned for strong built engines. It has about a thousand pounds worth of equipment in it and it’s got the bones of a look that will suit the vision in my head. I don’t know who these traders have been for years who overlook the look of a van. They have transit vans usually white and just put stickers on saying fresh food or kebab or burgers. Usually in red as they think it stands out more but they end up looking half arsed and grubby so that is what people assume of the food. This van has some of those, although not red and been given a bit more flair but it will need a respray or wrap for sure.
I messaged the guy and he got straight back to me, that’s unusual. I asked his lowest to which he said make me an offer, which he accepted. Makes me think he wants rid of it, the question is for what reason. He obviously isn’t selling it at a lose but it had been listed a couple of months so my figuring is he needs that money for something. We shall see. I normally don’t think I’d question it so much but due to everyone else being so elusive to selling, to find a motivated seller has been unnerving. So that day I booked a single ticket to Stevenage.
Now I’m aware this could end up being a wasted 9 hour round trip as he may no show, the van could be a wreck, he may be a dick. In which case I’ll have to get a train home or hire a car and drive home. All are expenses I can do without. BUT what if it’s great, I love the van, he is a gentleman and today the talk becomes the walk. After 5 years of saying “I’m going to get a van” to actually getting a fucking van. I can feel the energy just typing that. It’s vindication of putting my notice in and being positive, believing in myself and my abilities. The belief I can change street food in my area and create a scene, that I can have a life of going to events, working with friends and loving giving people awesome food whilst making money for me and the people I love, not anybody else. My skills my dollar.
Every morning I have a routine of getting up and listening to YouTube videos of successful people, trying to learn from them, using them as mentors and everyone of them preach learning as much as possible, and do it by getting out your comfort zone, taking a risk and grabbing life by the balls. Today I may fail, I may fail in not buying a van, I might buy a roached van, I might get lost driving it back, who knows. The point is I am trying, I am standing up and saying this is me. You want something go and get it. As les brown says “known hells are preferred to strange heaven”. Thats what holds people back. Without a year of listening and reading self development products I wouldn’t be doing this. But here I am.
Here I am, excited, nervous, scared and alive. Today i have a chance, a chance to take a big step towards my dream. Today feels like an accumulation of it all, my career, my dreams and my belief. Even if I get it today, until it’s successful I know I’ll have doubts and nagging voices saying “what have you done, you were comfy” but I tell you something friends I’m fucked if I’m going to have regrets as an old man that always talked and never walked. My mind, my vision, my legacy.
FOOD ANARCHY 